Sewing machine



C. SEAMAN SEWING MACHINE Aug. 2, 1938.

Filed NOV. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

C. SEAMAN SEWING MACHINE Aug. 2, 1938.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1936 INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

Aug. 2, 1938. Q SEAMAN 2,125,652

SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed NOV. 17, 1936 -QMLZENZR' Aug. 2, 1938. c. SEAMAN SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M449 4 ATTORNI'ZY.

7 H 6 V 0 6. s m w l9 4 K/MN m a Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINE Charles Seaman, Jamaica Estates, N. Y.

Application November 17, 1986, Serial No. 111,216

28 Claims,

piping to materials having portions of extra thickness, such as transverse seams.

An object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine which is particularly adapted for the above purposes.

Another object is to provide a unitary attachmentfor a standard sewing machine, carrying all of the parts required for making and applying the piping to the edge of a fabric.

Another object is to provide a folder for the above purpose having a throat adapted to permit passage of materials of varying thickness.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be par.-

- forming a part thereof in which one embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine head embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view illustrating the material and piping as produced by the present invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the attachment;

Figure 5 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 6 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 8 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the throat portion of the folder;

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line l0--l0 of Figure 8; and

Figure 11 is an end elevation showing the mouth or entrance end of the folder.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, Figure 1 shows a standard sewing machine head having a base I carrying an overhanging arm 3 5 upon which is secured a needle head 4 in which reciprocates a rod 5 carrying a needle 6. The rod 5 derives its power from any suitable source, not shown. Suitably mounted in the needle head 1 is a presser foot bar 1 adapted to be drawn up- 10 wardly for elevating the presser foot by means of the lever 8 and having an adjusting screw 9 to adjust the elevation of the presser foot to accommodate materials of any thickness. The adjustment of the presser foot is effected prior to 15 applying the piping.

In place of the usual cover plate provided on the base I of the standard sewing machine head, a cover plate I!) (Figures 1 and 4) of special construction is substituted and is secured to the base I by suitable means, such as screws II. This cover plate l0 carries the various parts which cooperate with the needle 6 of the sewing machine to produce the blind-stitched piping in accordance with the present invention.

The cover plate ill carries a block l5 (Figures 4 and 5) to which is pivoted, by means of a screw it, a lever l'l carrying on its free end a spring l8, which is adjustably secured thereto by screws 19 extending through longitudinal slots 20 in said spring. A presser foot 2 l and a lifting ear 22 are'secured to the spring l8 by screws 23. The lifting ear 22 is slidably attached to the presser foot bar I, as by a thumb-screw 22a extending through a transversely extending slot (not shown) in the ear 22 to permit the presser foot 2| to be raised by actuation of the-lever 8, or adjusted with respect to the cover plate by the adjusting screw 9, for holding the material in driving engagement with the usual feed dogs 40 (not shown) which extend through suitable apertures in the base I.

The presser foot 2| is adjusted along ,the path of travel of the material so as to varyits posi- -tion with respect to the needle 5 in any convenient manner. In the embodiment shown, this adjustment of the presser foot is made by means of van adjusting lever 26 which is pivoted in the block l5 and carries an eccentric or cam (not shown) engaging the lever I! for causing slight pivotal movement thereof about the screw IS. The lever 26 may extend to the front of the machine and may be provided with a pointer 21 which cooperates with a scale 28 carried by a plate 29 secured to the cover plate It). The lever 26 magnifies the relatively small movement of the presser foot and permits an accurate adjustment thereof to be made.

The block I5 is also provided with a channel 34 in which an arm 35 is adjustably held by a screw 36. The arm 35 extends to the sideof the attachment and carries a spindle 31 on which the binding or piping material 44 (Figure 1) may be held. A slide 38 is slidably mounted in the channel 34 in the block I5 and carries a bracket 39 to which the guide and folder for the binding material 44 is attached. The slide 38 also carries a tensioning gate 4|] which receives the binding material and guides the same to the mouth of the folder. By suitable adjustment of the slide '38, the folder 45 can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the needle to bring its throat in approximately proper Position.

The guide and folder 45 is carried by a fiat leaf spring 46 which is pivoted to the bracket 39 by means of a screw 41 to permit horizontal pivotal movement. By virtue of the spring 46, yielding movement in a vertical direction is also secured. The folder 45 is provided with a mouth 48 (Figure 11) which receives the binding material 44 from the tensioning gate 4|] and initiates the folding operation. The folder is formed to progressively roll and fold one side of the binding, as indicated at 49 (Figure 10) and 50 (Figure 9), so that the binding is discharged from the throat 5| of the folder folded longitudinally with one side folded over to form two plies and with the other side forming a single ply. The binding then passes downwardly through the U-shaped throat 5| in a generally U-shaped section, one side of which has a single ply and the other side of which has two plies. The construction by which the binding material is progressively folded in the above manner may be similar to that disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,020,478 for Pipingand method of making and applying same.

The edge 42 of the base material 43 (Figures 1 and 9) to which the binding 44 is to be applied is fed downwardly through the throat 5| between the two sides of the folded binding in the manner to be described. In order to permit materials of different thicknesses or seams and the like to pass through the throat 5|, one side of the throat is formed as a separatepiece 52 (Figures '7 and 8) and is mounted by means of a spring wire 53 so that this side is free to move outwardly when thicker materials are encoun-.

tered. The other side of the throat 5| rests upon a plate 54 which is carried by a spring member 55 attached to the folder by screws 56. The plate 54 overlies a part of the throat of the folder so as to normally constrict the area thereof and is adapted to permit the folder to swing outwardly to enlarge the area of the throat when necessary, as to permit a seam to pass therethrough. Both sides of the throat 5| are thus movable in response to the pressure of an increased thickness of material so as to permit such material to freely pass without injuring the parts or damaging the materialspassing therethrough.

Forming a part of the plate 54 is a guide 51 (Figures 8 and 9) which is provided with a rounded front surface over which the folded binding material 44 and the base material 43 pass. .This guide 51 rests against the offset portion 2| formed on the front of the presser foot 2| and is held thereby in position to present the binding material to the needle for blindstitching. In other words, the offset portion 2| functions as a stop. The relative position of this guide 51 with respect to the needle path may be adjusted by means of the lever 26 which controls the position of the presser foot 2| and hence the offset 2|, in the manner previously set forth.

The folder is yieldingly held in. position with the guide 51 resting against the offset 2| of the presser foot 2| by means of a spring 58 (Figures 4 and 7) which is mounted on the bracket 39 by a screw 59 and which is adapted. to permit the folder to swing away from the presser foot so as to enlarge the throat thereof for the purpose above mentioned. A wire GIJ is carried by the folder and extends over the throat 5| to hold the binding material in open position for receiving the edge of the base material 43.

The throat of the folder is also provided with a spacing flange 6| (Figures 7 and 8) which holds the same spaced from the cover plate In in order to provide clearance for the passage of the materials. The spring 46 permits the folder 45 and the guide 51 to move upwardly when necessary to pass an extra thickness of material.

Attached to the folder 45 is a fabric guide plate having a flange 66 adapted to guide the edge 42 of the base material 43 to the throat 5| to receive the binding material 44. A plate 61 provided with an arm 68 is resiliently held against the fabric guide plate 65 by means of a pin 69 and a spring 10. The plate 61 is provided with a lug 1| extending over the edge of the fabric guide plate for securing the plate in position. The arm 68 is bent upwardly and overlies the base material 43- to engage the loose ends of the fibers on the raw edge 42 and to cause them to lie against the surface thereof so that the fibers are held within and concealed by the finished piping.

In the operation of the machine for blindstitching piping to heavy material, the binding material 44 is held upon the spindle 31 and is passed through the tensioning gate -40 and through the folder 45. In the folder one edge of the binding is folded over to form two plies and the binding is discharged through the throat 5| folded about its longitudinal axis into general U-shape with two plies on one side, as indicated at 50 in Figure 9, and with one ply on the other side. The edge 42 of the base material 43 to which the binding is to be applied is fed over the fabric guide plate 65, and thence downwardly through the throat 5| of the folder with the edge 42 extending between the two sides of the folded binding. The base material 43 and the binding are then fed around the surface of the guide 51 and under the presser foot 2|. The needle enters the inner side of the inner ply of the folded edge of the'binding as the latter is bent around the surface of the guide 51 and emerges from said inner side without penetrating the outer ply. Thence it passes through the fabric and through the single ply forming the other side of the piping, as indi: cated in Figure 9.

The stitching thus formed is visible only on the under side of the fabric, the piping being blind-stitched on its face, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The guide 51 should be adjusted transversely with respect to the needle by suitable manipulation of the lever 26 so that the needle 6 penetrates the inner ply'without penetrating the outerply of the folded binding. This condition usually occurs when the surface of the guide 51 lies closely adjacent the path of the needle.

It is obvious that the binding can be folded to provide any desired number of plies on the two sides of the fabric, depending upon the thickness of the material and the effect desired, either by increasing the width of the binding which is passed through the folder 45 or by passing the same through a prefolder. In certain cases it may be desired to increase the pufliness of the piping, in which case a separate filler may be folded within the piping or the number of plies may be increased to produce the same effect.

The operation of the device and the feed of thematerial to the. needle will be otherwise similar to that described above.

It will be noted that the two sides of the throat of the folder are resilient and are movable to enlarge the tlfroat when necessary to permit passage of an increased thickness of material. The throat, for example, is resiliently mounted on the plate 54 by means of the spring 55 so that the entire folder may swing outwardly for the above purpose, and the side 52 of the folder is resiliently mounted for further enlargement of the throat. The folder is also mounted for vertical displacement to permit the increased thickness of material to pass under the guide 51.

The ear 22 of the presser foot is attached to the presser foot bar 1 so that the presser foot may be adjusted or elevated in the usual manner to facilitate the insertion or removal of goods in the machine.

It will be noted that the entire device is mounted as a unit which may be applied to a standard sewing machine by removingthe standard presser foot and coverplate and attaching the cover plate ill to the base I by screws H. Since all of the elements are carried in a single unit, the amount of adjustment required after attaching the same to the machine is reduced to a mini: mum.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, various changes and. modifications may be made therein as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.- The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the following claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, and a member carried by the folder having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a. position to be blind-stitched.

2. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a member having a surface which guides the folded binding to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, and spring means attaching said member to said folder whereby the folder can be displaced slightly without altering the position of said member.

3. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a base, a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a presser foot mounted on said base, and a member carried. by said folder and having a surface which guides the folded bindingffrom said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blindstitched, said member resting against and being positioned by said presser foot. I

4. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a base, a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a presser foot mounted on said base, a member carried by said folder and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of travel of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, said member resting against and being positioned by said presser foot, and means for adjusting said presser foot along the line of feed of the material for varying the position of said surface with respect to the needle path.

5. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a base, a needle headcarrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a presser foot mounted on said base, a member carried by said folder and having a surface which ing needle, a binding folder having a throat ad-' jacent the path of travel of the needle, a member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path'of travel of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, and means resiliently mounting said member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough.

7. A sewing niachinefor blind-stitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of travel of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, means resiliently mounting said member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough, and a separate member forming the other side of said throat and resiliently attached to the folder to permit the throat to be further enlarged for passage of said material.

8. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a base, a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a. throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of travel of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, means resiliently mounting said member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough, and means on said base to adjust the position of said member with respect to the path of travel of the needle.

I 9. A sewing machine for making binding comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a binding folder having a U-shaped throat to discharge the binding folded in general U-shape, and means guiding the edge of a base material through said throat to receive the folded binding, both sides of said throat being resiliently mounted to permit the throat to be automatically enlarged for passage of materials of extra thickness.

10. A sewing machine for making blindstitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a member having an edge closely adjacent the path of the needle for guiding the binding in a position to be blind-stitched, a binding folder to infold at least one of the edges of the binding and to fold the binding into general U-shape, said folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, and means guiding the folded binding downwardly through said throat and over said member, both sides of said throat being resiliently mounted on said folder to permit the throat to be enlarged for passage of material of extra thickness.

11. A sewing machine for making blindstitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, a member having a surface closely adjacent the path of the needle for guiding the binding in a position to be blindstitched, a binding folder to infold at least one of the edges of the binding and to fold the binding into general U-shape, said folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, means guiding the folded binding downwardly through said throat and over said member, and a wire extending downwardly through said throat to engage the binding for holding the same in open U-position for receiving the edge of a fabric.

12. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a-sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, 3, binding folder mounted on said member, and a guide carried by the folder having a surface which guides the folded binding from said folder to the path of the needle ina position to be blind-stitched.

13. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said member, a guide having a surface which guides the folded binding to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, and spring means attaching said guide to said folder whereby the folder can be displaced slightly without altering the position of said member.

14. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping 'comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of. a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder and a presser foot mounted on said member, and a guide carried by said folder and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said folder to the path of. the needle in a position to be blindstitched, said guide resting against and being positioned by said presser foot.

15. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, 3, binding folder and a presser foot mounted on said member, a guide carried by said folder and having a surface which guides the said presser foot, and means for adjusting said presser foot along the line of feed of the material for varying the position of said surface with respect to the needle path. L

' 16. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder and a presser foot mounted on said member, a guide carrier by said folder and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said folder to the path of the needle in a positionto be blind-stitched, said guide resting against and being positioned by said presser foot, and "spacing means carried by said guide to elevate the same from said member for permitting passage of the material thereunder on its way to the presser foot.

17. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said base and having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, and means resiliently mounting said guide member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough.

18. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said base and having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, means resiliently mounting said guide member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough, and a separate member forming the other side of said throat and resiliently attached to the folder to permit the throat to be further enlarged for passage of said material. 7

19. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a' member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said member and having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, means resiliently mounting said guide member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness of material passes therethrough, and means on said first member to adjust the position of said guide member with respect to the path of travel of the needle.

20. A sewing machine attachment for making binding comprising a folder having a U-shaped having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, and'means guiding the folded binding downwardly through' said throat and over said guide member, both sides of said throat being resiliently mounted for enlarging the throat to permit passage of material of extra thickness.

- 22. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted. to be secured to the base of a sewing .machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member on said first member having a surface for guiding the binding in a position to be blind-stitched, a binding folder on said first member to infold at least one of the edges of the binding and to fold the binding into adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, and means guiding the folded binding downwardly through said throat and over said guide member, both sides of said throat being resiliently mounted for enlarging the throat to permit passage of material of extra thickness.

23. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member on said first member having a surface for guiding the binding in a position to be blind-stitched, a binding folder to infold at least one of the edges of the binding and to fold the binding into general U-shape, said folder having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle,

means guiding the folded binding downwardly through said throat and over said guide member, and a wire extending downwardly through said throat to engage .the binding for holding the same in open U-position for receiving the edge of afabric.

24. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocating needle, 9, binding folder having a throat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a member carried by the folder having-a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched,

. the needle.

25. A sewing machine for blind-stitched piping comprising a needle head carrying a reciprocat adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a member having a surface which guides the folded binding to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, spring means attaching said member to said folder whereby the folder can be displaced slightly without altering the position of said member, and means to adjust the position of said member transversely with respect to the path of travel of the needle. 4

26. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said member, a guide carried by; the folder having a surface,which guides the folded binding from said folder to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, and means to adjust the position of said guide transversely with respect to the path of travel of the needle.

27. A sewing machine attachment for making' blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said member, a guide having a surface which guides the folded binding to the path of the.'needle in a position to be blind-stitched, spring means at- ,taching said 'guide to said folder whereby the folder can be displaced slightly without altering the position of said member, and means to 'adjust the position of said guide transversely with respect to the path of travel of the needle.

28. A sewing machine attachment for making blind-stitched piping comprising a member adapted to be secured to the base of a sewing machine head adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a binding folder mounted on said base and having a throat adapted to be positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle, a guide member forming one side of said throat and having a surface which guides the folded binding from said throat to the path of the needle in a position to be blind-stitched, means resiliently mounting said guide member on said folder to permit the folder to move relative thereto for enlarging said throat when an extra thickness ing needle, a binding folder having a throat L of material passes therethrough, and means to adjust the position of said guide transversely with respect to the path of travel of the needle.

CHARLES SEAMAN.

CERTIFI GATE OF C0 RREC 1:]: ON

Patent No. 2,125,652. .Au ust 2, 19-

CHARLES SEAMAN.

It ie hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page L second column, line 15, claim 16, for the word '"carrier" read carried; and. that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform I to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of September, A. D. 1958.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

